Archive · 19 Aug 2026
Burnham unveils England plan to end rough sleeping
Andy Burnham, the prime minister, wants people sleeping outside to have somewhere safe to live by Christmas.
His government plans to provide emergency places to stay and support people moving into permanent homes.
It will spend £442 million on the programme.
Areas with the most homelessness will receive the most money.
The plan is expected to help thousands of people and create more than 1,000 permanent homes over three years.
Rough sleeping in England reached 4,793 people in 2025.
A charity said the total number of homeless people was much higher because it also included families and people without secure homes.
Charities welcomed the plan, but opposition politicians said the government had not explained clearly how it would work or be paid for.
Andy Burnham announced a plan to move people sleeping rough into emergency accommodation and long-term housing by Christmas.
The government will distribute a boosted £442 million funding package, prioritizing areas with the greatest homelessness and housing pressure.
The programme aims to provide immediate accommodation and support the creation of more than 1,000 permanent homes over three years.
Government figures recorded 4,793 rough sleepers in England in 2025, while Shelter estimated 382,000 people were homeless overall.
Charities broadly welcomed the plan, but opposition parties questioned its delivery arrangements and funding details.
- Who
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham, Housing Secretary Angela Rayner, local leaders and mayors, charities, and opposition parties are involved.
- What
- The government announced a £442 million programme to help people sleeping rough move into emergency accommodation and permanent homes by Christmas.
- When
- The announcement was made one month after Andy Burnham became prime minister; a national summit is planned for later this year, with action targeted before Christmas.
- Where
- Across England, with the largest funding shares going to areas experiencing the greatest homelessness and housing pressure.
- Why
- The government says it wants to end rough sleeping and believes emergency accommodation and long-term housing support can help people leave the streets.
Government and supporters
Opposition and critics
Ability to end rough sleeping
Government and supporters
Andy Burnham said no one should have to sleep in doorways or outside stations and argued that the government can move people off the streets, citing the response during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Opposition and critics
Opposition parties expressed scepticism, noting that the government had not provided enough detail about how the commitment would be delivered.
Funding and implementation
Government and supporters
The government said the £442 million package would help thousands of people leave the streets, access secure homes and receive support to rebuild their lives.
Opposition and critics
Conservative housing spokesman James Cleverly said the plan lacked a delivery plan and offered little detail about how it would be paid for.
Long-term prospects
Government and supporters
The programme is intended to create more than 1,000 permanent homes over three years, alongside immediate accommodation.
Opposition and critics
The Institute for Public Policy Research warned earlier in the year that homelessness could rise by 25% by 2030, raising questions about whether the measures will be sufficient.
- Funding package
- £442 million
- Permanent homes
- More than 1,000 planned over the next three years
- Rough sleepers in England
- 4,793 recorded in 2025, according to government figures
- Total homeless population
- Shelter estimated 382,000 people in England in 2025
- National summit
- The first national summit dedicated to tackling rough sleeping is planned for later this year
- Funding priority
- Areas with the highest homelessness and housing pressure will receive the largest shares